78-year-old New Bedford woman drives after purse snatcher

A 78-year-old woman got into her car Monday and drove after the man who snatched her purse only to lose him several blocks later when he bolted into a yard, police said.

NEW BEDFORD — A 78-year-old woman got into her car Monday and drove after the man who snatched her purse only to lose him several blocks later when he bolted into a yard, police said.

The thief ripped the handbag from the woman's wrist as she unloaded groceries from her car about 1 p.m. at Orchard and Rockland streets, Detective Capt. Steven Vicente, head of the Major Crimes Unit, said.

As the thief ran south on Orchard Street, the woman got into her car and pursued him for several blocks, losing him when he ran into some yards, Vicente said.

The woman wasn't injured in the robbery. Stolen were an undisclosed amount of cash and personal identifications, police said.

The suspect is described as an 18- to 20-year-old man who was wearing a brown winter coat with tan lining and a hood and dark sunglasses.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Tyrone Jones at 508-991-6300, ext.134